Schu won't blame crew for blow-out

Monday 9 January 2006 00:10 BST

Michael Schumacher's hopes of reclaiming the world title may be in tatters, but the seven-time world champion refused to point the finger at his team after mechanical trouble robbed him of victory at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Smoke poured out of the back of Schumacher's Ferrari after the German made his second pit stop, prompting him to pull out and hand the race win to title rival Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard now needs just one more point in the final race of the season in Brazil in two weeks' time to regain his crown.

"We are winning together and we are losing together - and in Japan we were just trying to do everything," said Schumacher, 37, who will retire at the end of the season. "We were in the lead and we lost an engine. But this is Formula One. I think we can be very proud with what we have achieved this season."

With a gap of 10 points between Schumacher and Alonso, the veteran has conceded his chances of going into retirement as world champion have all but disappeared, even though they remain mathematically possible.

"The drivers' championship is over because I don't want to go to Brazil hoping someone else retires, that's not the way I want to win a championship," he added.

"We all know Fernando only needs one point and we all know what a good driver he is, so that should be no problem for him.

"I don't think it's a nice thing to hope for a retirement. We are going to Brazil now and we will give all we can, but more towards the constructors' championship and then we will see what comes out of this."